SIT formed to probe cartoonist Aseem Trivedi's case

Mumbai police has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by an Assistant Police Commissioner to probe the case of political cartoonist Aseem Trivedi and also review the sedition charges slapped on him.

"The case has now been handed over to the SIT headed by ACP G T Padwal. Earlier it was probed by policemen of Bandra Kurla Police station where the case was registered. Going by the importance of the case, it was transferred to an ACP-level officer," Deputy Police Commissioner Namdev Chavan said today.

Aseem Trivedi being taken into police custody. Pic/AFP

Another senior police official said the SIT will review sedition charge against the Kanpur-based artist and submit a report to the Maharashtra government which would then order cops for withdrawal of the charge if required. Padwal is being assisted by two inspectors, two sub-inspectors, one assistant inspector and six constables, the officer said.

The SIT team was collecting all the evidence from the Bandra Kurla Police station and would record the statements of the required persons, the officer said.

Trivedi, facing the charge of sedition among others, yesterday walked out of jail a day after the Bombay High Court ordered his release on bail. He vowed to intensify his campaign for scrapping of the sedition law.

The 25-year-old freelancer, arrested for posting alleged seditious content on his website and insulting the national emblem and Parliament, was on Monday remanded in judicial custody till September 24, after police said it no longer required his custody. The anti-corruption cartoonist initially refused to seek bail till the sedition charge was dropped.